Yes that is true. A few years ago my mom got pulled over for not signaling, and he also gave her a ticket for a rear broken tailight.

 

I'm not in Cal, but I'm in Mass, which is a 'green state'. This means we have the same laws as Cal.

You CAN modify your car with anything that has a CARB (California Air Resource Board) exemption. For instance I really wanted to buy the C&L CAI, but it had no carb exemption so I had to go with an AEM CAI, which has a carb exemption.

If you do use parts without carb exemption, you will fail a state emmissions test assuming the tester notices. I have honestly never been asked to prove CARB exemption compliance during an inspection in MA. Some stuff has the cert on the part, and sometimes you have to look it up and go prepared with that info. I plan to temporarily remove any suspicious things before getting my next inspection.

The fly on the wall is OBD-II though. I'm not sure what an inspector can see with that. I always swore I would never buy a post 1996 car because of that damn thing, but time finally won.

 

Fatblazer and Mustangman....I'm in the OC too! I'm in Costa Mesa which is not very far from Anaheim, Orange, Irvine or Newport beach. Welcome to one of the highest cost of living places in the area!!

87 octane just went over $3.00 today! Geez that hurts!!

 

I would definatly do some research prior to installing your s/c, on the cover of the instructions book for my vortech it says "Legal in California only for racing vehicles which may never be used upon a highway". Under procharger's FAQ it just says most of their s/c are 50 state legal.

 

Old cars get smog tested every 2 years... this is my first new car, but from what I understand I won't need to get it smogged until it is something like 5 or 7 years old. That might change since you are coming from a different state. Years ago, you could "cheat" the smog test with a little $$$ or if you knew someone, but that's getting hard to do.
The smog laws suck, but what can you do? Like everyone else said... for your mods to be legal they need CARB numbers.
I've heard that when they bust up the street races they nail you for every little infraction... including being too low, too loud (over 88 db I think... got that ticket on my Harley), no front plate, they even look under the car for cats...
As for the tint... well... hit or miss. If a cop is in a bad mood or sees you F***ing around, you'll probably get a ticket. A fix-it ticket. That means you have to pull it off, then go to a police station to have them verify it (same rule for other "fixable" violations, like loud exhaust).

One of the reasons I've held off jumping on the mod-wagon is that I want to wait until there are more CARB certified parts. Apparently it isn't an easy process to get CARB certified...

One step further... if I wanted to drop a 5.4 into my mustang, it would have to be from the same year or newer vehicle, and have all the smog equipment from that vehicle. I don't think you can put a truck engine in a car either. Then... you have to go to a referee station (state run) and they go over the engine swap with a fine toothed comb.
I've never had this problem because I've always owned 1960's cars... smog exempt!

Good luck, enjoy the weather (riding a Harley in a t-shirt on xmas day is the best), and welcome to $3+ per gallon.

 

SonicStanGirl.....Sure looks like a great place. I was out there couple days ago. I am looking around for apartments. Seems like cost of living is very high out in OC. I average it about 40% more than Sarasota Florida where I currently live.

 

Fatblazer,
Welcome to Orange County, if you do transfer. We can use all the Stang people we can get. You are correct, in that 91 octane is the highest available. That being said, I run a 93 octane tune from Brenspeed, with absolutely no issues. You can see my other mods in my sig, along with the fact that I am tinted dark all the way around. No problems so far, at least with that. Mustangman is correct in that they usually won't pull you over for it, but, if for something else, they will tack it on.....I believe Mustangman is getting his tint done tomorrow....

Watch out for the motorcycle cops. I got tagged after I had my car about 4 or 5 weeks. 46 mph in a 25 mph zone. $180.00 fine.....

Take care, and welcome, let us know when you get here. We will put together an OC gathering!!!

Mike

 

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSTANGS!!! NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER PUT AVGAS INTO A NEW MUSTANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Can't stress this enough, if you know anyone doing it, TELL THEM TO STOP!!!! The lead will frag your engine good! (not to mention all the other additives they put in)

 

Well first off NO 93 Octane here in CA. Your Borla is fine do not mess with the catalytic converters at all. Supercharger is fine as long as it has CARB # as someone else said. Yes the police do target modified cars but they tend to stick to the Imports. They cops actually have a training video that shows them what to look for. Front window tint is not allowed but most cops with the EXCEPTION of the CHP will not hassle you as long as they can see inside the car. Insuraces rates are going to be more for certain. Front plate is required but i am not drilling holes in my bumper. Simply lay it on the dash where visible or forget it until you geta ticket.

Richard

 

I'm all for an OC gathering! Everyone here on this forum that is from So Cal seems to gather in LA.